Your Google Business Profile

Ownership, Transparency & Working With C2Local

Several of the services we provide at C2Local involve managing and improving your Google Business Profile. That includes publishing updates, optimizing your profile, responding to changes, and helping strengthen your visibility in Google Search and Maps as part of your overall marketing strategy.

Because we'll be working with one of your business's most important online assets, I believe you should understand how that relationship works. This page explains what access I need, what remains under your control, what you should expect from me, and what Google recommends you know before hiring anyone to manage your Business Profile.

Who Owns Your Google Business Profile?

As the business owner, you should always remain the Primary Owner of your Google Business Profile. Owners have complete control over the profile, including the ability to add or remove users, transfer ownership, and manage access permissions.

As a best practice, C2Local, or any other marketing company you hire, should only be given Manager access. Manager access provides everything needed to maintain and optimize your profile without giving someone else control over your business listing.

If we need to create or claim your Google Business Profile on your behalf C2Local will temporarily be the Primary Owner while the profile is being established. As soon as Google's required waiting period allows, typically 7 days, we'll transfer Primary Ownership to you and retain only Manager access.

What Does Manager Access Allow C2Local to Do?

Manager access gives C2Local the ability to manage your Google Business Profile directly without needing your Google login credentials. This allows us to:

Publish Google Business Profile updates
Optimize your business information
Upload photos
Respond to reviews (when included in your services)
Monitor profile performance
Help keep your profile accurate and up to date

Manager access provides everything we need to perform the services you've hired us to provide. It does not give C2Local ownership or control of your Business Profile.

What You're Paying For and What You're Not

Watch Out for Google Business Profile Scams

One of the most common scams targeting small businesses involves Google Business Profiles. You may receive phone calls, emails, or text messages claiming that you need to pay to keep your Business Profile active, verified, or visible on Google. Some even imply they're calling on behalf of Google. In almost all cases, these claims are false.

Creating, claiming, and owning a Google Business Profile is completely free.

Google does not charge businesses to have or maintain a Business Profile. If someone tells you that you must pay to keep your Business Profile on Google, that's a major warning sign.

So What Are You Paying For?

When you hire C2Local, you're paying for the knowledge, strategy, and ongoing management involved in making your Business Profile a stronger marketing asset for your business. You're paying for the work that goes into managing and improving your Business Profile, not for the profile itself.